Shortlisted for the Bloody Scotland Debut prize
'Beautifully written' Michelle Paver
'I devoured this' Rebecca Netley
'A rare gem of gothic literature' A. M. Shine

At a Scottish manor house requisitioned as a temporary hospital during the First World War, Esther works as a volunteer nurse while dreaming of becoming a poet. With her husband and beloved father both dead, she knows that if the war ever ends she must build a very different life for herself.

Meanwhile, on the coast beyond her new home lies Gallondean Castle, a gloomy near-ruin that has been unhappily inherited by Jacob. Jacob is already haunted by his own demons but as he uncovers details of the castle's past, the shadows only seem to be growing darker around him.

However it is Daniel, one of the soldiers who appears to have received only a minor, yet mysterious, injury, whose life will come to connect with both Esther and Jacob in horrifying and unexpected ways...

Unsettling and evocative, deeply atmospheric and brilliantly engaging, The Unrecovered is an unforgettable historical debut inspired by a real life legend and marks the arrival of an outstanding new talent.

Impressive * Sunday Times *
With a story that crosses the world, from Scotland to Belgium and Jerusalem, this is an intriguing literary debut * Herald *
Disturbingly atmospheric and evocative, Richard Strachan’s debut is a deliciously dark historical gothic mystery that will go down well with lovers of The Essex Serpent * Sunday Post *
Ambitious... his audacious novel will give much pleasure to many people * Allan Massie, Scotsman *
The gothic richness that imbues Strachan's writing is haunting as it is beautiful, and reminiscent of the wonderfully dark tales that inspired me to become a writer. The Unrecovered is a rare gem of gothic literature, and the meticulous melding of historical fiction into the narrative makes its horror all the more captivating -- A. M. Shine
Immersive, beautifully written, and with an intriguing setting, The Unrecovered builds towards an hallucinatory climax -- Michelle Paver
Creeping unease gives way to abject horror in this dark tale of dreadful inheritance and inexorable fate. Strachan is a formidable talent, weaving virtuoso sentences and deft allusions through this compelling historical nightmare -- Martin MacInnnes, author of Booker Prize longlisted In Ascension
A formidable and deftly crafted nightmare, from a time of universal war, stretching backwards and forwards over the generations and across the map. The latest haunting in a classic Scottish tradition derived from Stevenson and Hogg -- Iain Sinclair
In this beautifully written and compulsive debut, Strachan weaves the horrors of WW1 with the shadow of a dreadful legacy. Dark, intelligent and profoundly moving, I devoured this stunning debut in two sittings. I will be thinking about this story and its characters for some time -- Rebecca Netley, author of The Whistling
Mark your calendars for February – The Unrecovered by Richard Strachan is an astonishing debut. A multilayered and gripping exploration of grief, trauma and atonement taking in Robert Browning, the Crusades, Peter Pan, colonialism and spooky hounds: complex, compelling and eerie -- Naomi Kelsey, author of The Burnings
A harrowing tale of madness, illness and inherited horror. The genteel exterior of Roddinglaw house . . . belies nightmares that lurking within and nearby . . . a ghost story, a war metaphor, a tribute to poetry, and a literary novel all combined into one book, but above all, it is a great read -- Laura Shepperson, author of The Heroines
Strachan melds historical fiction and the supernatural wonderfully. The Unrecovered is a brilliant, suspenseful novel that will move you to the edge of your seat and ensure you remain there to the very last page . . . Whether you like historical fiction, the supernatural, books about war or travel or anything else, this book has something for every reader -- Robert Welbourn
A deeply felt portrayal of the suffering of war and repentance set against the backdrop of a brooding landscape and an ancient legend. The gorgeous writing aches with emotion, mystery and suspense. A mesmerising read -- Theresa Howes, author of The Secrets We Keep and The French Affair

Richard Strachan is a former bookseller, who lives in Edinburgh with his family. His short fiction has been published in various magazines including The Dark and Interzone and by Galley Beggar Press in their digital singles list. The Unrecovered is his debut novel, and his second novel, Witchfire, will be published in 2026.